Launching during Invasive Species Week, the campaign calls on residents, gardeners, walkers, joggers, families, landowners and voluntary groups to take simple actions this summer to help prevent the spread of Japanese Knotweed and Himalayan Balsam in the Calder Valley.
People can log cases where they see invasive plants on the iRecord app https://irecord.org.uk/app/ as well as take action by pulling out Himalayan balsam.
People are being asked to only report Japanese Knotweed, not to pull it out, as there is strict legislation around the control and movement of this plant, and it can propagate from small pieces.
Japanese knotweed
Sally Kelling, flood resilience officer with the Environment Agency, who is coordinating the campaign in Calderdale, said:
Invasive species like Himalayan Balsam and Japanese Knotweed have a very negative impact on our environment. It often results in bare river banks in winter increasing the chances of soil erosion, danger of landslides and risks of flooding which is a particular problem for the Calder Valley.
Gavin Roberts, volunteer co-ordinator for Calder Future, said:
It would be great to involve as many local residents in this campaign as possible to make a big hit on invasive Himalayan Balsam in 2021. Areas where local activists have been pulling balsam over the last years have seen a marked improvement and an increase in native flora coming back after the removal of the balsam, so it really is worthwhile continuing this effort. F
